Those Old Folk Lore Fishing Rules

[Blue Streak]

Some I have heard over the years

 

"when the dogwood trees are blooming crappie fishing is at it's peak"................. I think this one is right on in this area

 

"when the leaves on the oak trees are as big as a squirrel's ear, the top water fishing is very good"................I like this one too

 

"when the cows are laying down in the fields the fishing will be bad" ..................don't like this one. How active can a cow be??

 

"when you see a lot of game moving about, like deer and turkeys, the bass will be very active".............. maybe, maybe not.

 

here is one that I believe that know one seems to talk about

When I pull up into a bay or an area where the turtles are sunning on logs I catch bass there. This has been true for years.

 

OK let's hear some of yours, I bet there are some good ones from around the country.

[Dogman65]

Some I have heard over the years

 

"when the dogwood trees are blooming crappie fishing is at it's peak"................. I think this one is right on in this area

 

"when the leaves on the oak trees are as big as a squirrel's ear, the top water fishing is very good"................I like this one too

 

"when the cows are laying down in the fields the fishing will be bad" ..................don't like this one. How active can a cow be??

 

"when you see a lot of game moving about, like deer and turkeys, the bass will be very active".............. maybe, maybe not.

 

here is one that I believe that know one seems to talk about

When I pull up into a bay or an area where the turtles are sunning on logs I catch bass there. This has been true for years.

 

OK let's hear some of yours, I bet there are some good ones from around the country.

 

Cattle lay down in front of bad weather....so if the herd is laying down....bad weather is comin.  Maybe that's what this comes from.

[BradGuenette]

"Orange sky at night, fishermans delight"

[clayton86]

Winds front the west fish bite the best winds out of east fish bite the least

[ww2farmer]

As some one who works outside and around wildlife all the time, on the days I don't see a lot of deer, rabbits, and other assorted critters, I usually get a report of "fishing was slow" from buddies who have been out fishing while I am working. Same thing goes for grazing cattle.

[Brian Needham]

Winds front the west fish bite the best winds out of east fish bite the least

^^^I believe and follow this rule, I seen it and heard it too many times for the old timers

and when out of the south it will land in their mouth!

[BigBassBarry]

Winds front the west fish bite the best winds out of east fish bite the least

this is true I dont know why but it is.

[Marty]

Winds front the west fish bite the best winds out of east fish bite the least

 

this is true I dont know why but it is.

 

I think it's not the wind direction, per se, but the atmospheric pressure changes that are associated with certain wind directions. Maybe there's some truth to it over the long run, I just don't know. But I never decide to go fishing or not go fishing based on wind direction, as I've done lousy too many times on west and south and done well on north and east. As the old saying goes, the best time to go fishing is when you can.

[Brian Needham]

east winds are normally seen (at least here in the south) post frontal, blue bird skys and high pressure.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Winds front the west fish bite the best winds out of east fish bite the least

Wind from the north, fisherman does not go forth.

Wind from the south blows the bait into the fishes mouth.

 

I've also heard that when turtles are sunbathing, bass will be shallow. 

 

@Marty I fish regardless of what direction the wind blows, but from my observations here in the DC area wind from the North usually coincides with a sharp drop in barometric pressure and less than ideal fishing conditions. I agree 100% though, go when you can.

[The Rooster]

In my area, if you come into waters where the gar are on the surface, just leave. No fish will bite that day.

[paul.]

when you are fishing and suddenly you start hearing frogs when they have previously been silent, get ready 'cause things are about to get interesting.  same with seeing deer or turkeys suddenly emerge from the woods into open areas - especially in large groups.  all these things are harbingers of a hot bite to come. 

 

same with seeing a flock of gulls take off and suddenly start diving on the river.  these cues have helped me put more fish in the boat than i can tell ya.  poor man's electronics.

[SirSnookalot]

"Orange sky at night, fishermans delight"

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.

[Blue Streak]

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.

 

I think this  may be about as accurate as a scientific weather forecast

[senile1]

east winds are normally seen (at least here in the south) post frontal, blue bird skys and high pressure.

 

While I don't base my fishing times on the wind, there is some truth to this.  Low pressure systems rotate in a counter-clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere.  The northern portion of a low pressure system is rotating from East to West due to the counter-clockwise rotation.  The western edge of the system will have northeasterly to straight north winds.  These winds coincide with the day after a cold front which tends to be a tougher day of fishing in a lot of cases.

[WRB]

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.

Red sky at night is a sailers delight.

Tom

[SirSnookalot]

Red sky at night is a sailers delight.

Tom

So true.

[*Hootie]

Mom is mad,

Go fishing Dad...... my favorite by far...lol

Hootie

[roadwarrior]

The "VERY BEST DAY EVER" on the Tennessee River occured with  sharply rising barometric pressure.

How is that possible? For rivers, current is everything!

 

 

 

 

[Oldplug]

Hmmmm I have fished and still do on many many days when the wind was coming from the NW and the fishing is great. In the winer and early spring it is a prime place to catch bass. Often only a foot or so deep. The reason is the banks are protected by high hills and bluffs. Water can warm up a good deal in these small spots even on cloudy days. My main concern with wind is getting out of it in most cases.

Now the moon that is something I believe in and has been by science.

[Ratherbfishing]

I am away, fish come to play.  I come around, fishing shuts down.

[Raul]

Here´s some better says for y´all folks, after this onea all the rest says matter not:

 

"The worst day of fishing is better than the greatest day at work. "

 

" Any time is a good time to go fishing"

[Brian Needham]

RW has a very good point.........with these old saying, IMO they are more applicable to lakes and such..when fishing rivers, current is king.

[bassguytom]

Here my wives tale. I go fishing too much my wife hits me in the head with a frying pan. I always find the bite to be much better the day before the frying pan.

[WRB]

Since I am an old folk whatever I have posted would be Old Folk Lore.....

I believe fish eating birds will find fish faster than modern electronics. Birds have a second sense and phenomenal eye sight.

Active animals around the lakes or river does indicate active feeding fish. Active ecosystem, terrestrial insects, feeding animals indicates the predators should also be active, including bass.

Wind from the west, fishing is best, wind from the east fishing is least. Westerly winds are usually due to approaching low pressure systems and the east is high pressure; pre frontal or falling barometer is far better than rising barometer or post frontal blue bird sky.

Don't leave fish to find more fish. More money in fishing tournaments of all kinds has been lost by leaving a bite for a better bite...bird in hand is better than one in the bush!

Dawn and dusk is better fishing than noon. Very true, bass have extremely good low light vision and are active in low light periods. Noon is a good time for lunch.

Tom